The Letters of St. Jerome 141

san Girolamo (345–420 d.C.) · Epistolae · PL 22, 327–1224

141 To Augustine PL 22, 1179

A short note in which Jerome praises Augustine for the determined stand which he has made against heresy and speaks of him as “the restorer of the ancient faith.” The allusion seems to be to his action in the Pelagian controversy. If so, the date is probably 418 a.d. This letter is among those of Augustine, number 195.

Gratulatur ejus industriae, per quam haereticorum factionibus obstiterit, eaque in re suum quoque studium testificatur.

Domino sancto ac beatissimo Papae AUGUSTINO HIERONYMUS.

Omni quidem tempore beatitudinem tuam, eo quo decet honore, veneratus sum; et habitantem in te dilexi dominum Salvatorem: sed [al. et ] nunc, si fieri potest, cumulo aliquid addimus, et plene complemus, ut absque tui nominis mentione, ne unam quidem horam praeterire patiamur, qui contra flantes ventos ardore fidei perstitisti. Maluisti, quantum in te fuit, solus liberari de Sodomis, quam cum pereuntibus commorari. Scit quid dicam prudentia tua. Macte virtute, in orbe [al. urbe ] celebraris. Catholici te conditorem antiquae rursum fidei venerantur atque suspiciunt; et, quod signum majoris gloriae est, omnes haeretici detestantur: et me pari persequuntur odio; ut quos gladiis nequeunt, voto interficiant. Incolumem et mei memorem te Christi Domini clementia tueatur, domine venerande et beatissime Papa.

Philip Schaff and Henry Wace (eds.), New York: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1890-1900. Public domain: English translation first published 1885-1900 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series). Latin: Migne, Patrologia Latina (1844-1855), public domain; transcription from Corpus Corporum (University of Zurich).